Skip to main content

Coding

Setting Up the Code Area​

  1. From Imports within the Basic menu, select and drag a from microbit import * block to the coding area and connect it under the # start code here block.

  2. From Loops within the Basic menu, select and drag a while True: block to the code area and attach it under from microbit import * block.

  3. From the Compass menu, select and drag a compass.calibrate() block to the code area and attach it below the from microbit import * block.

Starter Code

Temperature Sensing​

  1. From Logic within the Basic menu, select and drag an if True: block to the code area and attach it within the while True: block.

  2. From the Accelerometer menu, select and drag an accelerometer.is_gesture(‘shake’) block to the code area and attach it within the True of the if block.

  3. From the Display menu, select and drag a display.scroll(0) block to the code area and attach it within the if accelerometer.is_gesture(‘shake’): block.

  4. Change the 0 of the display.scroll block and type temperature(°).

Completed Code for temperature sensing

We can now sense the temperature of the room you are in by shaking the micro:bit.

Light Sensing​

  1. From Logic within the Basic menu, select and drag an if True: block to the code area and attach it under the if accelerometer.is_gesture(‘shake’): block.

  2. From the Buttons menu, select and drag a button_a.is_pressed() block to the code area and attach it within the True of the if block.

  3. From Logic within the Basic menu, select and drag an if True(): block to the code area and attach it within the if button_a.is_pressed(): block.

  4. From Logic within the Basic menu, select and drag a 0 = 0 block to the code area and attach it within the True of the if block. Select the = and choose <.

Completed code for light sensing

We can now use the micro:bit to detect if it’s light or dark within a room by pressing the A button on the micro:bit.

Compass Sensing​

  1. From Logic within the Basic menu, select and drag an if True: block to the code area and attach it under if button_a.is_pressed(): block.

  2. Right-click on button_a.is_pressed() block and select duplicate. Attach the duplicated block within the True of the if block. select a and choose b.

  3. From the Display menu, select and drag a display.scroll("Hello World") block to the code area and attach it within the if button_b.is_pressed(): block.

  4. From the Compass menu, select and drag a compass.heading() block to the code area and attach it within Hello World of the display.scroll block.

Completed code for reading the compass

We can now see what the compass baring of the direction the micro:bit is facing by pressing the B button on the micro:bit.

Completed Code​

Completed code

We are now ready to download the code to our micro:bit so we can go out and sense our environment.